Back Porch Bluegrass

I’ve featured my friend Tom Henderson from Tampa, FL, this week, as a tribute to the folks of Florida and eastern USA in the recent devastating storms. With his Bluegrass Parlor Band and his programme, This Is Bluegrass, did much for bluegrass music in the Tampa Bay area. I’ve also included some music from the Grascals, Patty Loveless, Larry Sparks, Doyle Lawson – a bluegrass Who’s Who, indeed. The Trenwiths, Matt & George & the Pleasant Valley Boys, and Country Ham also get some airtime. Enjoy.

A wide-ranging selection of bluegrass music offerings in this episode, from Missy Werner, the Lonesome River Band, Chris Jones & the Night Riders, to some pre-bluegrass from Bill Monroe, and some very early country music with what has become a bluegrass classic. Mac Wiseman, Sawmill Road and the HCBB with Pam Findlay also get some airtime – an eclectic collection!

I have my son Sam Trenwith in the studio with me today, talking a little about his music teaching world, as well as our upcoming concert in Raglan at the end of this month. I’ve also featured a band, the Forest Hills Bluegrass Band from south-west Ohio, playing their own original music, as well as offerings from Laurie Lewis, Jim Lauderdale, Bobby Hicks, Bill Blackburn, the Osborne Brothers and even The Trenwiths.

I’m digging into my LP collection for some of today’s selections – Emerson & Waldron, great band from the late-1960’s/early 1970’s, and the Johnson Mountain Boys, classic bluegrass from the 1980’s. Of course we’ve got some fine offerings from Rhonda Vincent, the Brombies, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, and the Stanley Brothers. Throw in some picking from Brad Kolodner, the HCBB and Eddie Adcock & Don Reno, and you’ve got a memorable bluegrass concert.

The Dreadful Snakes kick-off this episode of the Back Porch Bluegrass Show, and then we’ve got Balsam Range, Jeremy Stephens, Dr Pete Wernick (playing some pretty way-out sounding banjo licks), Longview and Ramona Church. I’ve got Dale Jett & Hello Stranger back this week, and the Trenwiths (previewing their appearance at the Raglan Country & Blues Festival), and a classic from Flatt & Scruggs ( because it IS a bluegrass show!)

This week, we’ve got some Carter Family music from Dale Jett, some old-time country from Lulu Belle & Scotty, and some banjo picking from Junie Scruggs – Earl’s brother. There’s some fine bluegrass in here from Aaron Foster, Jeanette Williams, Roland White, and the Earls Of Leicester, a great band called ‘Sideline’, and some straight-ahead picking from Nothing Fancy. The ‘best of bluegrass’.

Missy Werner, the Kody Norris Show, Seldom Scene, Jim & Jesse, and Nine Mile Creek (from Australia) are on the show this week. I’ve also included some great cuts from a Hot Rize live concert, and some fine picking from John Hickman.

I’ve just bought some ‘new’ CDs from a friend and fellow collector of bluegrass, and I’ve used them to compile this episode of Back Porch Bluegrass. I’ve also paid tribute to the great bluegrass fiddle player, Bobby Hicks, who passed away earlier this month.

Great banjo playing from Jim Mills, wonderful mandolin playing from David Grisman & Sam Bush, with a generous helping of fine picking & singing from the Stanley Brothers, Alison Krauss and lots of others. Pure delight!

A little bit of Irish bluegrass from Niall Toner, some dynamic music from Newtown, songs from David Parmley, Del McCoury, Double Overtime, Earl Taylor, and Sierra Hull, and some fine instrumentals from the Boxcars, and Billy Hurt. Oh, and some old-timey clawhammer from Bob Siggins. A rare mix of bluegrass!

A very eclectic collection of the varying shades of bluegrass in this episode, almost as many colours as in an artist’s blue palette. Lou Reid, Norman Blake, Jeremy Stephens, Jean-Luc Leroux, the Lonesome River Band, Frank Solivan, the Whitstein Brothers, Bluestone, Claire Lynch, Jim Mills – something for everyone. Enjoy!

This episode of Back Porch Bluegrass features music from 1927 right through to 2023, with lots of great tunes in between. Uncle Dave Macon, the Bluegrass Album Band, Starlett & Big John Talley, John Reischman & the Jaybirds, Jane Germain & Ian Simpson, the Stanley Brothers – some fine selections here.

Dan Tyminski, Alison Krauss, Dailey & Vincent, Hot Rize, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, are all featured in this episode of Back Porch Bluegrass, along with some fine picking from Clarence White & the Kentucky Colonels, the Sonoran Dogs and even NZ’s own HCBB get a chance to show their skills. Not to be missed.

At the suggestion of a listener, I looked through my archives and found some music featuring Aoife O’Donovan & Crooked Still; from this contemporary bluegrass we jump to Frank Wakefield and Red Allen in 1963, the Lilly Brothers, some great mandolin picking from Rhonda Vincent, the Spinney Brothers from Nova Scotia, and lots more you’ve probably not heard before. Worth a listen!

This episode of BPBg features an interview with Dr Des Walsh, of the Dublin, Ireland-based band ‘Whistle’. I visited with the band during my recent visit to Ireland, and enjoyed a great evening of their music, as well as some jamming with them. Of course, we’ve got a few ‘regulars’ on the show like High Fidelity, Blue Highway, David Grisman and even some HCBB.

I’m delighted to be delving into my CD’s again, and I think I’ve come up with some gems for you. Great bluegrass from the likes of JD Crowe, The Dillards, Sawmill Road, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Sister Sadie and Joe Mullins; a new original opening track from me with Jean-Luc Leroux, and a track from Cliff Waldron that didn’t make it into last week’s show.

First show since I returned from my overseas trip, and I’ve picked out a variety of tracks for you, that I think you’ll enjoy.

Originally aired 16-06-20.

Formerly 14-09-21 - Jeremy Stephens interview.

Formerly 19-11-19 - Missy Raines interview.